Clip-on snow chains

Abstract

A snow chain assembly having a pair of cross-chains is connected with a wheel assembly by a pair of connecting devices. One connecting device includes a lug mounted to the inside of the wheel and a cooperating socket plate that receives the lug and is secured thereby. The second connecting device includes a T-shaped radial slot and a T-shaped pin connected to the chain. When the pin is inserted in the slot and moved radially outward, the slot prevents disengagement of the pin. Spring biased retaining members may be attached to the wheel as locks to further prevent chain disengagement.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An assembly for enhancing vehicle traction comprising: a wheel having two sides, connection means for facilitating attachment of the wheel to a vehicle, and bearing surface means for supporting the wheel on an underlying surface;   cross chain means for increasing traction between the bearing surface and the underlying surface, including first coupling means for connecting one end of the chain means to one side of the wheel and second coupling means for connecting a second end of the chain means to the other side of the wheel; and   the first coupling means including:   a lug defining a key, having a bottom surface mounted on the wheel, and having a tongue vertically spaced from the lug bottom surface and the wheel, and the tongue being directed away from the bearing surface, and   a socket member connected to the one end of the cross chain means, having a keyway conforming to the shape of the key and a thickness which allows the socket member to be slidably moved to a retaining position between the tongue and the wheel from a vertically aligned position of the key and keyway so as to retain the socket member relative to the wheel.   
     
     
       2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the lug includes a pair of ears projecting in directions generally perpendicular to the direction of the tongue and the keyway includes recesses to accomodate the ears so as to impede accidental disengagement of the socket member from the lug. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of claim 1 further including retaining means mounted on the wheel in general alignment with the tongue positioned to receive at least one end portion of the socket member, the retaining means being operable to exert a resilient bias holding the socket member under the tongue. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the retaining means includes a compression spring for exerting the resilient bias. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein: the second coupling means includes a pin having lateral protrusions, being connected to the second end of the chain means; and   the wheel includes a radially extending slot which prevents passage of the pin when the protrusions are circumferentially aligned so that the protrusions and slot cooperate to connect the second end of the chain means to the wheel.   
     
     
       6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein: the slot has a T-shaped configuration with circumferential and radial portions, the circumferential portion being closer to the center of the wheel than radial portion;   the pin protrusions define a T-shaped pin sized to pass through the circumferential portion; and   the pin has a body with a generally rectangular cross-section that inhibits rotation of the pin when the body is received in the radial portion of the slot.   
     
     
       7. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the radially innermost portion of the slot is covered by a retainer plate, the plate being mounted to the wheel by a spring hinge with sufficient resilience to hold the plate against the wheel when the slot is located above the wheel center. 
     
     
       8. In a wheel having first and second sides, a periphery and operable to be supported on an underlying surface, an improved means for attaching traction enhancing chains to the wheel comprising: a plurality of lugs circumferentially spaced around one side of the wheel, each lug being on a common radius and including a tongue spaced from the wheel and extending away from the periphery;   a corresponding plurality of radially extending slots circumferentially spaced around the wheel at a common radius, operable to retain one end of a cross chain; and   a corresponding plurality of retainer plates, each plate covering a portion of the corresponding slot and being mounted to the wheel by a spring hinge having sufficient resilience to hold the plate against the wheel when the slot is located above the wheel center.   
     
     
       9. The wheel of claim 8 wherein each slot also has a circumferentially extending portion located radially inwardly of the radial portion so as to receive and retain an enlarged end portion of one chain end. 
     
     
       10. A traction enhancing assembly for a vehicle comprising: a wheel having: two sides,   a circumferential bearing surface for supporting the wheel on an underlying surface,   a plurality of lugs circumferentially spaced on a common radius, each lug including a tongue and a pair of ears, the tongue being spaced from the wheel and directed away from the bearing surface, the ears projecting in directions generally perpendicular to the direction of the tongue, a key being defined by the lug tongue and ears,   a corresponding plurality of T-shaped slots, each having a radial portion and a circumferential portion positioned radially inwardly   of the radial portion; the radial portion being in general circumferential registry with a corresponding lug,   a corresponding plurality of retainer plates, each covering the circumferential portion of a corresponding slot and being mounted to the wheel by a spring hinge with sufficient resilient force to hold the plate against the wheel when the slot is located above the wheel center, and   a corresponding plurality retaining assemblies mounted on the wheel in general alignment with the tongue and including a compression spring for exerting a resilient force; and     a corresponding plurality of chains, each chain including: a pair of cross chain sections, each section having first and second ends,   a pair of rigid spacer links each connected to both chain sections at a side of the bearing surface,   a socket member connected to one end of the chain, having keyway conforming to the shape of the key, a thickness allowing the socket to be received between the tongue and the wheel; and retained under the tongue by the spring of the retainer, and   a T-shaped pin connected to the other end of the chain, sized to pass through the circumferential portion of the slot, and including a body with a generally rectangular cross-section that inhibits pin rotation when received by the radial portion of the slot.